Poonany's Thoughts

It's 1863. As the American Civil War rages in the South, violent race wars in New York's notorious Five Points slums threaten to tear the city apart. The American-born Nativists, led by the ruthless Bill "The Butcher" Cutter Daniel Day-Lewis, control the points through bloody gang wars. They despise the "invading" immigrants, especially the Irish-Catholics. When Bill dispatches their "Priest" Vallon Liam Neeson, Vallon's son, Amsterdam Leonardo DiCaprio, swears vengeance against the Butcher. He grows up to become Bill's trusted right hand man, if only to make revenge all the sweeter. With so much to say and so little space, let me "cut" to the chase and say Gangs of New York is an absolutely epic film. A stellar cast, a magnificently recreated set, jaw-dropping cinematography, detailed costumes, bloody battle scenes and a historical context made more weighty given New York's recent turmoil. Not to mention one very passionate director Martin Scorsese.


9/10